Providing information, education, and training to build knowledge, develop skills, and change attitudes that will lead to increased independence, productivity, self determination, integration and inclusion (IPSII) for people with developmental disabilities and their families.

A History of Human Services,
Universal Lessons, and Future Implications

"No one in the Twentieth Century has had such a profound impact on the language, content, imagery, integrity, cadre training efforts or literature in the field of developmental disabilities as Wolf Wolfensberger. It can be said that, given this monumental contribution, mediated through hundreds, and thousands, of human service workers whose efforts and perspectives have been shaped by his direct and indirect teaching, the lives of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of different people, have been transformed. Not a small endowment. In fact, if there were a Nobel Prize to be given in 'Human Services' or 'Societal Values', Wolf would be on the very short list for that recognition."more...

Dr. Wolf Wolfensberger died on February 27, 2011. His contributions to the field of developmental disabilities, in every imaginable way, are profound. He conveyed, through his writings and lectures, the origins and evolution of our history and so wanted to impart to all of his students the details, consequences, and ramifications of this history on the attitudes and perceptions of people with developmental disabilities. We offer our most sincere condolences to Wolf Wolfensberger's family and our deepest appreciation for sharing his work with us.

Between 1981 and 1987, Dr. Wolfensberger served as editor and publisher of TIPS (Training Institute Publications Series). The first issue provides background on how this periodical came to be, how the acronym was selected, and what each issue hopes to achieve. The normalization principle, service quality and evaluation, training, and values issues are key themes that are interwoven throughout; and positive developments in the field are highlighted. http://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/wolf_tips/

Day 1: An Interpreted Pictorial Presentation on the History of Human ServicesWith Emphasis on the Origins of Some of Our Major Contemporary Service Patterns and Some Universal Lessons for Planning and Structuring of Services Which Can Be Learned from This History.

Day 2: Reflections on a Lifetime in Human ServicesFrom Prior to the Reforms of the 1950s-70s to the Present, with Implications for the Future: What Has Gotten Better, What Has Gotten Worse, What Is the Same, and What Lies Ahead.

The GCDD is funded under the provisions of P.L. 106-402.The federal law also provides funding to theMinnesota Disability Law Center,the state Protection and Advocacy System,and to the Institute on Community Integration,the state University Center for Excellence.The Minnesota network of programs works to increase the IPSII of people with developmental disabilities and families into community life.